New building slated for Quincy CHP

It’s been a lengthy process, but a new facility for the Quincy Area California Highway Patrol is entering the design phase.

That’s the word from CHP Commander Erik Egide. In just a few short years, officers and staff will see the end of the existing 3,606-square-foot structure and see a new 26,000 square-foot-structure in East Quincy — that is if “it moves along like it should,” Egide said last week.

This is the culmination of years when the state has passed over Quincy in favor of other areas.

The local CHP has been on the state’s list for a facility replacement for some time. When considering a replacement the state looks at the age of the facility, the size, number of employees and earthquake standards, Egide said. “It looks like it’s our turn.”

The process involves the state finding the necessary funding, then the design and finally the building process, Egide explained. It generally takes about three years to get to the building phase.

The land — three or four acres — is on Lee Road and Alta Avenue east of Mill Creek Road. Egide said.

Currently, officers and staff work in small offices within the facility. There is just enough room to fit cruisers behind the locked gate when not in use, which is required by CHP regulations.

Egide is excited about everything the new facility will have to offer. There will be meeting/training rooms. Now when he wants to get officers together they have to borrow a facility. “We’re all over the place right now,” he said about finding one that’s available.

But the meeting rooms will also be available for community functions, he added.

There’s also space that can be used for emergencies. This is an area that can be prepared and offered to the public during a time of local crisis. And it will be a place where people can feel safe, he said.

And the building will meet all earthquake or seismic standards. The new facility will be incredibly strong, Egide explained. It must meet the Essential Services Act requirements meaning it can meet “the worst of the worst” kinds of conditions.

There will be room to offer teenage driver skills classes, which is another bonus.

At this stage, Egide said the state designers could decide to go with solar panels for the facility to help cut down on electrical costs.

Currently the Department of the General Services (DGS) is working with the CHP in circulating a draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) for the CHP Quincy Area Office Replacement Project Proposal.

The CHP and DGS have prepared the IS/MND in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act. This draft describes the project and evaluates its potential environmental effects.

Based on those findings of the draft IS/MND, the CHP and DGS have determined that it, as mitigated, would not have any significant effects on the environment.

The document is available beginning today, Feb. 20, through March 21. Comments must be received by 5 p.m. on the final day of review.

Comments can be sent as emails to quincy-comments@chp-ceqa.com or via the U.S. mail to Jennifer Parson, senior environmental planner, State of California Department of General Services, 707 Third Street, 4th Floor, MS509, West Sacramento, CA 95605.

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